Manufacture of explosive compounds



fltothe, conversion of nitro-glycerine incorpo UNITED STATES PATENT @Fl lCE,

cHAnLEs MORSE, or LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSWE COMPOUNDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,714, dated January 18, 1881,

' Application filed September 17, 1880. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Mouse, of Leominster, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented. an Improvement in the Manufacture of Explosive Compounds, of which the following is a specification;

I am aware that nitro-glycerine has been mixed with nitrocellulose to form a gelatinous mass, and that in an English patent to H. E. Newton, No. 4,178 of 1875, (a communication from A.- Nobeh) the use of nitrated collodion cellulose is claimed for thickening nitro-g'lycerineand nitrate of methyl into a gelatinous mass. My invention, however, has reference rated with nitrates or equivalent oxidizing sub stance into a solid, hard, dry mass to form an I explosive which is capable ofbein g granulated or pulverized, and which can be handled and transported with safety, and is free from the 1 injurious eliccts and dangerous properties of .tro-glycerine itself.

nitro-glycerine, and which, further, cannot be exploded by heat or fire while in an unconfined state, butis easily exploded'when confined by the use of a fulminate-cap, such as is used in exploding ordinary dynamite compounds.

In the dill'erentdyuamite compounds now audheretofore manufactured, in which nitroglycerine is mixed with non-explosive and incombustible earths, the nitro-glycerine being only in an absorbed condition, and theexplosive force being dependent wholly upon the amount or nitro-glycerine therein contained, the absorblmts must necessarily contain a large amount-of that explosive substance or they are extremely difficult to explode, and are there fore practically useless, and there is always a liability of the nitro-glycerine leaking out under the varying temperatures of climate to which they are exposed, and thus becoming nearly, if not quite, as dangerous as liquid ni- Further, explosives in which inealed g unpowzler or other analogous substancesare dastheabsorbentslbrthenitro-glyceri'ne are extremely dangerous to handie on account o their'low igniting-point and consequent liability to explode from a spark, friction, heat, or concussion. In my improved compound allof these defects are entirely overcome; and my Object is to produce a substance which shall lack all of the above objectionablcqualities, and yet shall be equal to the best of them in exploding qua-liner.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertaius to make and use this solidified nitro-glycerine compouml, I will proceed to describe my method ol' preparing the same. l

I dissolve common yellow rosin or colopln ony, or its equivalent resin or gum-resin, such as gunl copal, shellac, or sitndaraa'in sufficient methyl alcohol, coining] alcohol, chloroforzn, ether, or other equivalent solvent capable of dissolving both the resin and nitro-g'lyo erine to effect a complete solution (preferring theordinary methyl alcohol or wood spirit as being:v the cheapest) either in the cold or by aid of heat obtained by a water-bath heated to about 120 Fahrenheit. To this solution when cold-that is, when reduced to the ordinary temperature of the air-I add an amount of nitroglyeerine equivalent to about one-halt" 'hot material sutliciently to volatilize the elecholic or other solvent. in the case of methyl alcohol the distilling temperature to evapo rate need not exceed 150 Fahrenheit. It is desirable, too, for economy to connect the distilling-vessel with a suitable condenser to collect the solvent for repeated use.

During the process of distilling the stirrers are set in motion in order to break down the mass, so that it may be discharged from the vessel in a more or less pulverized form.

Other methods of granulation may be used if it is not desirable to save the solvent for further use-as, for instance, by stirring the dryingnnixture with a wooden rake or by rubbing i do not confine myself to the exact proportions above stated.

By this process I produce a perfectly homogeneous mixture of nitro-glycerine, resinous substance,'and nitrate, chlorate, or other equivalent material which can be handled and transported with perfect safety, and which is free from the injurious effects of pure nitro-glycerine. By the incorporation or mixing of the nitro-glycerineand resin with the varying proportions of oxidizing agents, such as the alkaline or metallic nitrates or chlorates, as set forth, an explosive of the grade required may be formed. I have found it best to add the alkaline or metallic nitrates or chlorates (in the proper proportions to oxidize the hydrogen, and more or less completely, aecordin g to the application intended, the carbon of the resinous matter,

otherwise, while at the same time the salts em-v ployed are infilmed with the resinous matter in such a way that'they are impervious to the action of water. This is peculiarly-advantageous when the salt or salts employed are more or less hygroscopic.

If desired, a mixture of several oxidizing agents may be added'instead of a single substance. a

A good formula to manufacture my improved explosive from would be as follows: To ten parts, by weight, of nitro-glycerine add twenty parts of methyl alcohol, twenty-two parts of resin, and sixty-eight parts of niter, or equivalent oxidizing agents.

I do not claim the incorporation of the nitroglycerine with a" resinous substance by means stance in a common solvent, then in intimately mixing them with niter or other oxidizing substance, and'then in evaporatingoif the solvent, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described process of manufacturing an explosive compound, consisting in dissolving nitroglycerine andaresinoussubdissolving nitro-glycerine and a resinous substance in a common solvent, then in incorporating the mass with niter or other oxidizing substance and reducing the mixture to a state of dryness and granulation, substantially as described.

3. An explosive compound, consisting of an intimate solidified mixture of nitro-glycerine, resinous substance, and oxidizing agents, substantially as descril'ied, v

4. An explosive compound composed of nitro=glycerine and! resinous subst'ance mixed or incorporated with niter, the whole being reduced to a solidcondition, substantially as described. I

In testimony of which invention set my hand.

CHARLES A. MORSE.

W'itnesses:

WILLiAM 0. ROGERS,

BOYD.

I hereunto 

